Israel: Health Ministry Grants 'Free Movement' Waivers For Receiving Vaccine

Health Ministry gives Israelis “free movement” waivers to convince them to take rushed coronavirus vaccine

 Zoey Sky 

Israel’s Ministry of Health has announced that citizens who take Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine will receive “green passports” so they can attend public events and eat at restaurants.

Get vaccinated to receive “free movement waivers”

Israel’s Ministry of Health told citizens that after they take Pfizer and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, they will be given “free movement waivers.” With these waivers, inoculated Israelis can circumvent COVID-19 restrictions.

However, the “green passports” will only be issued after a person receives the second dose of the vaccine, which Israel will start rolling out by Dec. 27. At least 60,000 Israelis will receive the shot per day. (Related: U.K. announces that passports will soon include vaccine stamps.)

Chezy Levy, the Health Ministry’s Director-General explained that green passport holders can attend different events and dine in person at restaurants. They don’t need to quarantine themselves if they come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Additionally, vaccinated Israelis can travel abroad without undergoing the mandatory COVID-19 test before leaving the country. Green passport holders will be issued a separate international card before they can travel abroad.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein clarified that the idea behind the plan was not to grant privileges to the “green passport” holders. Rather, the plan can help ensure that vaccinated Israelis can take part in activities that may be dangerous for those who haven’t been inoculated.

Israel already received the first shipment of the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. The Middle Eastern country has also signed contracts with Moderna and AstraZeneca to acquire their vaccines.

Strangely enough, recent polls have found that 50 to 75 percent of Israelis are unwilling to take the vaccines because they’re worried that they have been “rushed” and aren’t 100 percent safe for use.